Talk:Mizpah (emotional bond)

Untitled[edit]

The explanation given above is the traditional one passed down because of a mistaken interpretation of the Hebrew word Mizpah and a disregard of the context in which the quotation following the word was stated. Actually, Mizpah is hebrew for "watchtower", but what was to be watched was future misbehaviour from two men to each other. Jacob had secretly fled the house of Laban, his father-in-law in the middle of the night, taking flocks of animals, all his other assets, and his two wives and their children, the daughters and grandchildren of Laban with him, intending never to return. Laban discovered this and pursued Jacob. After discussion, the two agreed to recognize the separation,Laban saying that his daughters voluntarily left, and "(W)hat can I do to these daughters or to the children which they have bore?" Genesis 31:43. He agreed to let Jacob go in peace, but exacted a promise from Jacob to never abuse his daughters or take additional wives. Genesis 31:50. Both of these men then determined to erect a watchtower, a Mizpah, to commemorate this promise even though no person was present other than the two men when it was made, for "God is a witness between you and I". Both of the men also agreed that they would stay apart from now on, and not pass this watchtower to visit one another "to do evil". Genesis 31:52

72.16.133.42 17:59, 25 September 2007 (UTC)hsterling@sterling-gregorylaw.com[reply]

Moved from article-space, Tewfik^Talk 22:52, 9 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Not a good article[edit]

The intro paragraph doesn't really explain anything about an "emotional bond". It just talks about stones in the Bible. Er, okay, what? Equinox ◑ 06:58, 19 October 2023 (UTC)[reply]